Owner paid £500 'going rate' for stolen dog

A COUPLE from Windlesham were forced to pay a ransom to be reunited with their beloved dog Mungo.

A COUPLE from Windlesham who were forced to pay a ransom to be reunited with their beloved dog Mungo are warning animal lovers to be vigilant to the threat posed by kidnappers.

Peter Faggetter, 72, and partner Charmian Pick, 74, saw their Lurcher-Saluki cross disappear from their garden on November 24, just months after taking him in themselves.

But it was only after putting up posters offering a reward in exchange for Mungo’s safe return that the pair received a mysterious phone call a week later from someone demanding to know how much was being offered.

“It was clear that’s all they were after,” said Mr Faggetter. “They obviously got their hands on Mungo and held out until the posters went up around the village.”

He bravely agreed to meet Mungo’s captors at the couple’s home where he handed over £500 – the alleged "going rate" - in order to be reunited with the pet.

“We’re just so relieved to have him back,” he said.

“He was in a sorry state though – grubby, smelly, underfed and his nose inflamed as if it had been pressed up against a wire cage.

“But we’re not resting on our laurels now we’ve got him back. This is a growing problem in the area – we know other people who have suffered in the same way.

“There are worse stories than ours out there, many without the happy ending.”

The couple have since taken up their plight with the police and Surrey Heath Borough Council, whose dog warden Julia Adams confirmed the authority was taking the matter very seriously.

“We are seeing a growing number of thefts involving dogs in the area,” she said. “It is becoming a real problem. We want to advise residents to ensure they don’t leave their pets unattended outside shops, in the garden or in cars.

“If anyone else should be unfortunate enough to experience a situation like Mr Faggetter’s then they must contact the police.”

The couple took in Mungo as a puppy after he was found abandoned on a building site in London. He was taken to a vets in Windlesham where Mr Faggetter was returning another stray, and he fell in love with Mungo.

“We’re a nation of dog lovers and this is now becoming a nationwide problem,” he said.

“Here in the village, several people have lost dogs – some are still missing.

“One woman didn’t hear anything for almost two months before she was told to meet someone on a main road near Portsmouth where they demanded £650 to return her dog. We’re dealing with a very shifty bunch of people.”

Following his ordeal, Mr Faggetter added Mungo had quickly returned to his old self while Ms Pick said he was now kept under lock and key.

“We’ve become so incredibly attached to him,” she said.

“He’s a lovely dog and we’re going to be taking a few extra precautions to ensure he’s safe in the garden.”

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She has been editorial director of the online and print titles in Surrey and north-east Hampshire since 2007. Marnie previously worked at the BBC as a producer for 5 Live, having moved to national radio from BBC Sussex and Surrey.